One thing that has remained constant over the years is that Jayson Tatum has been the center of conversations. He was playing in the NBA at just 19, he has constantly been in the public eye. This has raised questions about whether Tatum is exceptional or overhyped. Such questions regularly pop up. However, his stellar contributions paved the way for the Boston Celtics to their 18th NBA title, the first since 2008. This historic win must have given Tatum the pass. But well, sometimes things don’t happen the way we want them to.

From being benched in the 2024 Paris Olympics to claims of defending the NBA championship, JT’s every move grabs attention. Recently, Celtics’ ‘Taco Jay’ appeared on the CBS Morning Show. What seemed like a casual chat with the hosts was a subtle rebuttal to critics. The NBA is more competitive than it’s ever been and Jayson Tatum has experienced it firsthand. Meanwhile, his gold medal from the Olympics adds the perfect finishing touch. So, what’s the power forward’s vision going into the 2024-25 season?

“Well first, it was extremely tough to win the Championship. But I’m super proud of what we were able to accomplish.” Tatum expressed his gratitude. He added: “To come into the next season and just say we’re going to do it again would be insensitive. I think that a lot has to go right and our mindset is not let’s win the Championship again.” In an attempt to silence the detractors, Jayson Tatum revealed that the defending champions are willing to focus more on their growth and legacy rather than winning. “Let’s start over, let’s get better every single day and not skip any steps”: this is the motto of the Celtics this season.

As long as improvement continues at a steady pace, the title would likely come back to Tatum & Co. Tatum’s philosophy appears to be a far cry from Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla‘s  “Animal Kingdom” philosophy.

“Most aggressive” – Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla embraces “attack” mindset

Those who have noticed would know that Boston Celtics‘ ringmaster Joe Mazzulla can be an unconventional character at times. Every time he appears before the media, he delivers something peculiar or iconic. Otherwise, why would anyone compare a title defense strategy to the animal kingdom? So, what did Joe Mazzulla say?

In a recent Locked On Celtics interview, Mazzulla used a strange animal metaphor for Boston’s title defense. “The phrase ‘defending a title’ is a very passive-aggressive term,” the Celtics head coach said. “If you look at the animal kingdom, some of the strongest animals don’t defend; they’re the most aggressive, and they attack the most.” Throughout the interview, Jayson Tatum’s coach infers to the animal kingdom. This is Mazzulla’s way of explaining why animals have the “purest form of hierarchy” in nature. Everyone has to stay in their lanes lest they get preyed on. Mazzulla’s unique way of clarifying the Boston Celtics’ NBA life stops. Defending is important but always watch your back!

So the Celtics are probably going to be better off if they embrace the “attack” mindset Mazzulla keeps talking about. But the way Jayson Tatum explained the team’s mindset going into the new season, might show a contrasting image. Now we’ll have to wait until a few matches roll down to know or understand where the Boston Celtics stand. Until then, let the suspense be with you!